Jagannath Temple Reforms: Amicus Curiae Holds Meeting With SJTA

Puri: In the wake of the directive of the Supreme Court for implementation of the proposals for the reforms in the Shri Jagannath temple, the amicus curiae, Gopal Subramaniam, appointed by the apex court, began discussion with the Shri Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) here on Friday to discuss 12 reform proposals and listen to the grievances of the servitors’ bodies on four proposals.

Talking to mediapersons after the meeting, chief administrator of SJTA, Pradipta Mohapatra said the amicus curiae was briefed about the history, tradition and rituals of the temple.

Giving detail schedule of the amicus curiae, he said the former after having a closed-door meeting with the Shankaracharya of Gobardhan Peeth, Swami Nischalananda Saraswati at 11.30 am, will have a meeting with the Law secretary at 4 pm and later with the Puri District Judge at 5 pm. On Saturday, he will meet the Gajapati Maharaja Dibyasingh Deb at 9.30 am. This will be followed by another meeting with the Temple Managing Committee at 11 am and with the Puri MP and MLA at 12.30 pm.

He said amicus curiae will later have a meeting with the Advocate General at 1 pm and the Chhatisha Nijog at 4.30 pm. The Sevayat Legal Cell of the Chhatisha Nijog (servitors’ body) will place its grievances on four proposals it has vehemently objected.

Apart from this, the amicus curiae will also meet the chairman of the Commission for Jagannath temple reforms, Justice BP Das during his two-day visit.

The Supreme Court, in its interim order in June this year, had directed the temple administration and the state government to implement its 12 reform proposals.

Replying to a question on the hoarding put up inside the temple premises displaying the rate chart of the Abhada (Mahaprasad) to be sold by the Suara Nijog (body of temple cooks) on the plate system to the devotees, Mohapatra said he has no information about the hoarding. “The SJTA has not put up the hoarding. Since I have not approved the rate chart, I will order the removal of the hoarding,” he added.